Background. It is a widespread expectation that sea-level rise will drown low-lying islands formed on coral reef platforms and that increased flooding will render them uninhabitable within the coming decades.

Carbon sequestration by natural systems may be a solution for slowing down atmospheric CO2 increases, and has been recognized under the United Nations ‘Framework for Climate Change Convention’, within the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) programme.